Leading in a Continuous Improvement Culture: Engaging and Coaching Problem Solving Thinkers (2 Day Class)

This two-day workshop is for lean managers or those responsible for supporting or developing lean managers. This workshop addresses the challenges leaders face in making the transition from a culture in which problem solving is the job of a few "experts" to one that fosters and enables continuous problem solving and improvement efforts at all levels.

Workshop Outline:

This workshop explores topics and skills related to leadership roles, principles, practices, and behaviors that contribute to creating and sustaining a continuous improvement culture:

The link between problem solving and continuous improvement

The kind of problem solving necessary for building a culture of continuous performace improvement

Completion and discussion of an assessment of company problem solving culture

The importance of engaging employees in meaningful responsibilities and the meaning of 'respect for employees' in a lean environment

Examination of our typical problem solving habits and the importance of leaders modeling and insisting on PDCA problem solving based on grasp of actual conditions

How managers can use value stream thinking to deploy responsibility to solve the right problems and lead continuous performance improvement

The importance of engaging employees in meaningful responsibilities and the meaning of 'respect for employees' in a lean environment

Leader role and skills for engaging and developing employees as problem solvers

Techniques for responding to requests for problem solving help from employees that develop their problem solving thinking without taking away responsibility

Questioning techniques that prompt a thorough grasp of a problem situation and force reflection on causes

Techniques to help others sort through the "noise" in a problem situation and focus on the real problem they want or need to address

Workshop activities will include:

Short presentations

Small and full group discussions

Short readings

Group and individual exercises

Skill practices with feedback

Expected Outcomes:

Participants should expect to grasp perspectives, concepts, and values that will help them define the purpose, practices and requirements of a problem solving culture.

They will learn how to support the role recognition by employees at any level.

They will also gain skills and techniques that can be used on a daily basis to help them develop problem solving thinking of their employees.

David applied his organizational skills at Toyota's Georgetown,
KY, plant where he worked in
management and organizational development during the facility’s startup phase
and beyond. During his 10 years at Toyota, David
became the manager of Human Resource Development at Georgetown
and then manager of Human Resource Development for North American Manufacturing
at Toyota's manufacturing headquarters in Erlanger, KY.
Before his tenure at Toyota, David was
responsible for organizational development as assistant to the Dean of the College of Education,
University of Kentucky. He currently aids companies
implementing lean through Lean Transformations Group.

Workshop Suggestions:
To maximize your learning experience we recommend that prior to attending this program you take
following workshops or have a good
understanding of the concepts presented within them.

Our workshops are designed to cater to a limited number of participants. If you must cancel a
workshop registration, you will be given a full refund up to four weeks before the workshop. A cancelation occuring
within four weeks of the workshop will be subjected to a $350 cancelation fee. Substitutions may be made at any
time prior to the start of the workshop. To cancel a workshop registration, please call LEI at (617) 871-2900.

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